Joint Managing Conservators Rights and Responsibilities

Texas law presumes that both parents should be joint managing conservators. When considering restrictions on rights and possession, the judge can consider a history of domestic violence, and the amount of time the parent has spent with the child. Read more about the rights and duties of a sole managing conservator.

Standard Rights and Duties of a Conservator

A parent appointed as conservator of a child has the following rights at all times to:

receive information from any other conservator concerning the child’s health, education, and welfare;

confer with the other parent to the extent possible before making a decision concerning the health, education, and welfare of the child;

access to the child’s medical, dental, psychological and educational records;

consult with the child’s physician, dentist, or psychologist;

consult with school officials concerning the child’s welfare and educational status, including school activities;

attend school activities;

be designated on the child’s records as a person to be notified in case of an emergency;

consent to medical, dental and surgical treatment during an emergency involving an immediate danger to the health and safety of the child; and

manage a child’s estate that created by the parent or the parent’s family.

Standard rights and duties of a conservator during periods of possession (when child is with you)

duty of care, control, protection, and reasonable discipline of the child;

duty to support the child, including providing the child with clothing, food, shelter, and medical and dental care not involving an invasive procedure;

right to consent for the child to medical and dental care not involving an invasive procedure; and

right to direct the moral and religious training of the child.

Hotline Information

To speak with a parenting time specialist on our toll free telephone hotline, please call 1-(866) 292-4636 Monday - Friday from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm Central time.
Calls will be answered in English and in Spanish.